Republican presidential candidate John McCain moved from being behind by 6 points among "likely" voters a month ago to a 4-point lead over Democrat Barack Obama among that group in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. McCain still trails slightly among the broader universe of "registered" voters. By both measures, the race is tight.

The Friday-Sunday poll, mostly conducted as Obama was returning from his much-publicized overseas trip and released just this hour, shows McCain now ahead 49%-45% among voters that Gallup believes are most likely to go to the polls in November. In late June, he was behind among likely voters, 50%-44%.

Among registered voters, McCain still trails Obama, but by less. He is behind by 3 percentage points in the new poll (47%-44%) vs. a 6-point disadvantage (48%-42%) in late June.

Who is a likely voter? In this poll, Frank says, that was determined by how much thought people have given to the election, how often they say they vote and whether they plan to vote in the election in November.

He says the number of likely GOP voters is up for now, probably in part because of Obama's trip and the "laudatory" media coverage of it. "At least in the short term it may have had the side effect of energizing Republicans," he says. Also, he says that McCain's sharp words about Obama and the media last week may have energized his faithful.

LogansPapa

07-28-2008, 07:01 PM

Excellent - maybe people are starting to listen to him, finally, in a substantive way.

Zathras

07-28-2008, 07:03 PM

Excellent - maybe people are starting to listen to him, finally, in a substantive way.

Or finaly looking behind the curtain and seeing the Mesiah Obama for what he really is.

LogansPapa

07-28-2008, 07:06 PM

Or finaly looking behind the curtain and seeing the Mesiah Obama for what he really is.

I don't think Obama's little tour overseas helped him. Not visiting the troops in hospitals was a big mistake; snubbing wounded soldiers was a no, no. McCain will keep on gaining form this amateur's mistakes.

LibraryLady

07-28-2008, 07:50 PM

When are the debates?

Goldwater

07-28-2008, 07:59 PM

Drudge says Obama is ahead by 8 or 9.

LibraryLady

07-28-2008, 08:02 PM

Drudge says Obama is ahead by 8 or 9.

This is likely voters and Drudge has it up also.

Goldwater

07-28-2008, 08:06 PM

This is likely voters and Drudge has it up also.

Fair enough.

Eyelids

07-28-2008, 11:17 PM

I called this happening, now is McCain's time to strike.

Something tells me he wont.

SaintLouieWoman

07-28-2008, 11:30 PM

When are the debates?
It sounds like there will be a minimum number. Obama wouldn't be able to use the teleprompter to give his Messiah change speech. I'm sure he'll never participate in a Town Hall meeting.